“Yuri, get the boy and deliver him to Mikhail’s man.”
Ivan glanced in Mikhail’s direction and must’ve received a nod because Ivan headed for the door.
Yuri, a large man who had squeezed his frame into a store-bought suit, lumbered from the café with Ivan on his heels.He headed straight for a vehicle parked across the other side of the square.On reaching the car, he spoke to the man sitting in the driver’s seat before going to the rear door and opening it.He leaned forward and must’ve said something because a small blond boy slid from the vehicle.The kid trailed the giant with unwilling steps, and when he stopped, Yuri turned around, and whatever words he uttered had the boy hustling.Yuri strode to Mikhail’s vehicle and must’ve told the boy to stay there because the kid sank to his knees by Ivan and didn’t move.Ivan scowled when Yuri retreated and squatted beside the child.
Edwina muttered under her breath and picked up her teacup to stop herself from letting loose with a foul curse.She and Suzie had grumbled about life in Middlemarch and how their grandmothers held all the control, but her parents loved her, and if she had severe problems, she approached Saber Mitchell or his family to seek help.
This kid had no support, and it raised her ire.
“I’m here, Smirnoff,” Mikhail said.“What did you want to discuss?”
“That’s Mr.Smirnoff,” a male voice snapped.
“Leopold, it’s fine.Please take a table near the door.Order tea and cake and try to blend.”The last held an unexpected shimmer of humor.“Mikhail and I need time to discuss things in solitude.”
Nothing more was said while Smirnoff’s men relocated, giving him and Mikhail greater privacy.Edwina attempted to eat more cake but had lost her appetite.She pushed the plate aside and concentrated on her tea.
“You’re a challenging man to contact,” Smirnoff said.“Even your grandfather didn’t know where you were last week.”
Edwina scowled into her cup.Why did he want to keep abreast of Mikhail’s whereabouts?
“I didn’t realize my life was so interesting to you, but since you asked, I traveled to discuss a project with a new client.I work on more than one project at once.”
“Clarice didn’t know,” Smirnoff mused.
“She isn’t my girlfriend,” Mikhail said in a tight voice.“She was someone I saw casually, and we attended a few events together.I went to parties with other female acquaintances, too.”
“But Clarice seemed to be your favorite.”
“She is out of favor now,” Mikhail said.
“Yet you ensured you gained custody of her son.”
“She didn’t deserve to get dragged into this mess.I owed her at least that.”
Smirnoff said nothing, merely allowing the silence to lengthen.Mikhail didn’t bite but waited him out, and Edwina suppressed a snigger.Smirnoff might be older, but Mikhail had learned the rules of negotiation.It made her curious about the discussions with her grandmother.
“You’re a cool character,” Smirnoff said.
That was admiration in his tone.Edwina heard it clearly, and she was certain Mikhail heeded it too.
“Please tell me what you want.I’m a busy man,” Mikhail said.
“I want you to take over as head of my…business.”
After a lengthy silence, Mikhail said, “Won’t your son expect you to hand everything over to him?Isn’t that what you have been training him for?”
Quiet fell again, growing to a point shy of extreme discomfort.Finally, Smirnoff said, “I love my son, but he’s not a good man.I have made mistakes since I took over the business from my father, but I have expanded and built the concern into a legacy to be proud of.My son lacks the same talent and resents taking orders from me.I don’t want to see the business dwindle into dust while I’m still alive to see the decline.”
“What makes you believe I can do your business justice?We have a different business ethos.I’m sure your son will object and create difficulties.Isn’t there someone else you trust to take over?”
“My second-in-command does not gel with my son.Giving him control would lead to inner conflict.You’re strong enough to hold off my son and anyone else who tries to steal the role.Mikhail, I’ve watched you since you were a child.You have strength and grit, and you inspire loyalty in your people.That’s difficult, but you do it without effort.Your grandfather is proud of you, and justifiably so.You’re an asset to him.”
More silence ensued, and Edwina imagined Mikhail’s thoughts.He’d fought with his grandfather to run the business his way and continue on the path his father had set them.His grandfather had wanted to return to the old ways, and Mikhail had fought his grandfather’s orders.He’d been young when he’d taken over, and it couldn’t have been easy.
“My grandfather has nothing to do with my business.”
Smirnoff barked a rusty laugh, his amusement clear to Edwina, although she couldn’t imagine a smile fitting smoothly on his thin, sickly face.
